Stiff Flexible Hoop and Method for Reducing Wrinkles in Clothing

ABSTRACT

A flexible and rigid thin hoop to be inserted into wet pants, shirts, or other appropriate clothing for the purposes of reducing or eliminating wrinkles. This invention reduces the use of electricity by old methods such as ironing or professional pressing, and reduces the risk of injury by burns. The preferred method of use eliminates the step of using a drier, thus further saving electricity and time in laundry activities. Additionally, improved timing or ease of use may be found through reduction of warm up time for heating elements within irons or assembly of iron boards.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/295,980, Filed Jan. 18, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention consists of a rigid yet flexible hoop designed to reduce or eliminate wrinkles in clothing, and to assist in creation of creases in some clothing. When used as described herein, this invention is an improvement to current common methodology for the removal of wrinkles in clothing (e.g. ironing, pressing, stretching).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

People so often encounter undesirable wrinkles during the process of washing and drying their clothing. Typical methods of removing unwanted wrinkles or creating desired creases include ironing, steaming, and professional pressing, which can often be time consuming, expensive or dangerous. When inserted into the clothing, this flexible hoop invention allows wet or damp garments to dry with significantly reduced (or no) wrinkles, and may add desirable creases (dependent on method of use), thereby avoiding the necessity for more costly, time consuming, or dangerous methods of wrinkle removal or creasing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Illustration 1 shows basic structure of the hoop.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the hoop.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hoop and connecting segment.

Illustration 2 shows manufacturing details of the hoop's connecting segment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the connecting segment when bound in tape.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the connecting segment when bound by a ferrule.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of the connecting segment when covered in a rubber or plastic sleeve or coating.

Illustration 3 shows the hoop(s) in use on pants.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the hoops when inserted into pants.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of where the hoops, pants, and hanger interact.

Illustration 4 shows the hoop(s) in use on a shirt.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective of the hoops when inserted into a shirt.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hoop 2 of flexible, semi-stiff plastic type material is joined at a connecting segment 6. The connecting segment 6 is coated or covered in a rubber or plastic material to reduce snags when in use and for added comfort by the user. The hoop material is a flexible rod connected at its ends either by overlapping the two ends 8 and taping them together with adhesive tape 10, or by joining the two ends together with a ferrule or tube 12. The connection 16 then may be covered or coated in rubber or plastic 14 for reduced snagging or added longevity of the connecting segment.

When a pair of hoops 20 is inserted into the legs of pants 22, the hoop deforms to accommodate the shape and curve of the pants, yet it provides a natural tension against the interior wall of the pants which creates a tense surface on the fabric, thereby reducing wrinkles in this position. Commonly, a user may insert a hoop 20L into the left pant leg 22L and a hoop 20R into the right pant leg 22R of wet or damp pants, positioning the hoops within the legs for desired crease (or along the pants seam to avoid a crease). The pants may then be clipped to a household clothing hanger 18 using household laundry clips 24, and left to dry. When the pants are dry, spray starch may be applied if desired by the user, and the hoops may be removed. The pants should now exhibit significantly fewer wrinkles than if the pants were tumble dried or hung to dry without the hoops in use.

A pair of hoops may also be used to aid the wrinkle reduced drying of shirts. A user may hang a wet or damp shirt 30 onto a household hanger 26 in the typical fashion. One hoop 32 may be inserted by any convenient method into both sleeves of the shirt as it hangs on the hanger. Another hoop 28 may be inserted into the lower opening of the shirt and pulled to project from the collar opening of the shirt, where it is looped around the hanger's hook 26 to secure it in place. The tension of the hoop in contrast to the weight, wetness, and material composition of the shirt will determine if the shirt sleeves hang flat or extend out when drying, however the shirt in any position will generally be found to have significantly fewer wrinkles and potentially added creases when dry.

Alternative Embodiments

-   The hoop may be made of any flexible rod material such as plastic,     fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP), spring metal, wire, or rubber. -   The hoop may be made without any visible seam or joint. -   The hoop rod material may be coated in plastic or rubber for added     comfort, usability, or longevity. -   The hoop rod body length prior to connection at the connecting     segment may be several feet or several meters long, depending on the     intended sizes of garments the hoop will be used for. -   The ferrule in the connecting segment may be metal, plastic, rubber,     or any material suitable for connecting the rod ends. -   The connecting segment may be constructed without a rubber or     plastic coating or sleeve covering the connecting segment. 

1. A hoop or collection of hoops comprised of hard flexible material, said hoops joined with or without any detectable seam, designed to fit into wet or damp clothing such as pants or shirts or other clothing into which a hoop may be inserted to cause tension on the fabric of such clothing that may decrease the appearance of wrinkles within the clothing before or after drying, and may or may not cause a crease to occur upon the clothing. 